Friday, May 28, 2010

With the World Cup just two weeks away, it's time to put in some predictions. I'm always wrong with this stuff, but it never stops me from trying. Before I detail some of the choicest tidbits here, a quick note: I want to run a type of mini-competition amongst footie fans from the Rs.5 readership. There are basically thirty one spots open to prediction if you leave out the permutations of the third- and fourth-place teams in each of the groups in the first round. I am also leaving out the 3rd place playoff because bronze medals are for losers.

So yeah, there are 31 spots open for prediction. All you have to do is number your teams the way I have done it here. This part is crucial: your number 1 should be the winner of group A, number 2 the runner of Group B and so on. Just follow my lead by looking at the table below, and filling it in with your own predictions.

Then, either in the comments or in an email to fiverupeesadmin AT googlegroups DOT com, send me a numbered list that looks like:

1. France
2. Nigeria
3. England
4. Serbia
.
.
.
31. Spain

or whatever. You can add your justifications and whatever, but that part is optional. All you have to do to partake in the competition is give me thirty one numbered teams. And you must do so before a ball is kicked; the competition closes at the exact moment the World Cup begins. Who knows, I might even give a prize to the winner (maybe).

So get cracking with your predictions and send them in. You can find the groups by clicking here.

Anyway, here is my bracket:

ROUND OF 16

QUARTER FINALS

SEMIFINALS

FINAL

CHAMPION

1. Winner of Group A—Mexico

2.Runner up of Group B—South Korea

17.Mexico

18.Germany

25.Germany

26.Brazil

29.Brazil

30.Spain

31.Brazil

3.Winner of Group C—England

4.Runner up of Group D—Germany

5.Winner of Group E—Holland

6.Runner up of Group F—Paraguay

19.Holland

20.Brazil

7.Winner of Group G—Brazil

8.Runner up of Group H—Chile

9.Winner of Group B—Argentina

10.Runner up of Group A—Uruguay

21.Argentina

22.Serbia

27.Argentina

28.Spain

11.Winner of Group D—Serbia

12.Runner up of Group C—USA

13.Winner of Group F—Italy

14.Runner up of Group E—Denmark

23.Italy

24.Spain

15.Winner of Group H—Spain

16.Runner up of Group G—Cote d’Ivoire

The highlights for me:

France failing to get out of the group stages for the second time in three World Cups. Do not, I repeat, do not sleep on Mexico and Uruguay. You do so at your peril; I watched plenty of the South American and Central American qualifiers, and trust me, neither team is to be messed with. Plus, France just suck. I mean, they're just a terrible team, with a terrible coach, and overrated players. I am very confident about this one. They're out.

Two tasty all-South American round of 16 clashes. The first between Argentina and Uruguay and the second between Brazil and Chile. Argentina beat Uruguay by a single goal twice in the qualifers, the second time under considerable pressure (in Uruguay, when a draw or defeat could've meant missing the World Cup). But they're more settled now, and I don't see Uruguay having enough to get by them. As for the second game, as much as I love Chile's sexy 3-3-1-3 formation, they got laced 7-2 on aggregate against Brazil in the qualifiers, and I see that trend holding up too. Also, the Brazil-Chile game will be the most entertaining of this round. Remember I said this.

If it's a contrast in styles you want, watch the Denmark-Italy game. Denmark are actually quite an exciting team to watch based on the little I've seen them play in the last couple of years. Trust Italy to ruin the fun with a 1-0 win, the goal a freaky one that takes a deflection off a set piece in the 78th minute.

By the way, I see Serbia ruining England's World Cup dream...indirectly. You see, I'm predicting Serbia win their group, pushing Germany down to the runners up spot, so that they play England in the first knock out stage. England may be better on paper, but in big tournaments, I'll take the Germans over the English every day. Some teams just know how to play and win big matches. Germany is one of those teams. England is not. Bye, bye Don Fabio.

The two most interesting quarter finals for me will be between Holland and Brazil, and Italy and Spain. I expect the bad guys to win one (Brazil) and the good guys to win the other (Spain). Meanwhile, Argentina and Germany beat a pair of teams that have realistically reached their ceiling by getting to the quarters: Serbia and Mexico, respectively.

In the semis, Brazil beat Germany, who simply aren't good enough. And Spain beat Argentina in the game of the tournament, where Messi and Di Maria put the fear of God into Spain (whose one vulnerability is down the flanks) before ultimately bowing out because of some idiotic substitution by Maradona. We get our dream final: Brazil vs Spain.

Spain are exactly the type of team Brazil love to beat. They'll sit back, absorb, wait, wait, wait some more, and then pounce. Think Inter-Barca first leg to see what I mean. Brazil will have 40% of the ball but 75% of the goals. Children everywhere will cry, including Brazilians, who wonder what the hell Dunga has done to their team, they barely recognize it anymore, before someone politely tells them that Brazil haven't played "like Brazil" since 1982.

Alright, now it's your turn. Remember, numbered teams to 31, either in the comments below or in an email to fiverupeesadmin AT googlegroups DOT com. Go for it.

Other random predictions

Most annoyingly played up thing by the media who have nothing else to write about in the week before the games begin: those horns that make it sound like the stadium has been invaded by bees. Trust me, by June 11, you would've heard the word "vuvuzela" about 8204343299048 times.

Top scorer: David Villa

Most heartbroken team: Spain.

Team everyone is happy is kicked out when they are because their media is starting to bug the hell out of everyone: tie between England and USA.

Biggest disappointment (team): Portugal, who fail to win a single game.

Most outrageous quote: Diego Maradona, in the couple days off between the group stages and the first knockout stage.

Possible subjects of said quote: Pele's sexuality, racism in South Africa, the backward nature of Uruguayans, or a reporter's sister.

Best feud: pick two, any two, players from Holland.

Best friendship: Pique and Fabregas, who make Spain even more suffocatingly likable.

Most awkward moment: when British tabloids reveal that John Terry's wife has been having an affair with his Chelsea teammate Michael Ballack. Ballack confirms the rumors before the England-Germany game, saying "Well, I broke my ankle and am sitting here in London, and I had to help my team somehow...plus, I always kinda liked Wayne Bridge.

UPDATE: If you contributed predictions under the pseudonyms of any of the following, please email me as soon as possible at fiverupeesadmin at googlegroups dot com:

43 comments:

mcphisto
said...

HAHAHAHA, first of all, fabulous list of random predictions. LOVED it all.

now as for the real deal, i got this excel sheet the other day from a friend for WC, and i randomly filled it in and generated results, and voila, the results were bloody ... fantastical ! and ofcourse, brazil, the team of choice, won the cup. so i am going to keep up with the same list and predict that for 5 rupees.

Still no word about the massacre of the Ahmadiyas in PakLand in this blog!! True to waht some wise friend said 'bout this blog to be an accurate gauge of what the best and brightest think about the goings on.

I hope Brazil wins (bcos Argentina can't win this time around, despite having world's most talented footballer in the team.) The from shoe-land may put up stiff resistance, but I'hope this year they don't get away with their negative antics and emotional exploitation of the refs.

Either Argentina or Holand :D , brazil ?? no way ahsan , spain i can see logically winning it , Italia no chance alongside France, and also could be an African Team , cameroon , I vory , Ghana u never know now.

I fancy England doing well in this world cup even though they've looked out of sorts in the warm-ups. I have them one-upping Brazil at one point ... that may well be wishful thinking. Oh well. Here's my bracket:

Would like to add that while I have Spain and Brazil as finalists, I don't think it's quite going to work out that way. There will be surprises and personally I'm hoping for two things: (1) An African team goes deep and (2) There's a first time winner.

I really wish the Dutch could have some semblance of a defense. It'll be even unlikelier if Braafheid starts. Thumped Ghana 3-1 a few days ago, but all you need to do is look at the goal conceded. Utterly shambolic.

It'll take a brave man to put the money on anyone other Spain. Even with added expectations their squad is just too bloody ridiculous.

Oh, and I already hate vuvuzelas. They've got another instrument, apparently, that is used kind of like a whistle but makes a sound akin to a baby crying at the top of his annoying little lungs. :|

I think my predictions show exactly what sort of football I like. Spain are just TOO good, too much of favorites for me to let them win. Hence it comes down to my favorite team (Netherlands) versus the ones destined to show a loco manager and a genius can overcome the odds (Argentina).

It is however, with a heavy heart and acknowledge of Argentina, I finally picked the winner.(this may have something to do with reliving all that oranje hippiness of old, total football and that ibrahimovic with pace and heart, Johann Cruyff)

though i must add here that the four teams i am supporting, in order of preference, Brazil, Spain, Holland, Portugal, are all in each other's draw so its a messed up scene there. I will have to endure a lot of mixed feelings.

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